Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira celebrates with the championship belt during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC News: MMA Analyst Trashes Alex Pereira’s Championship Chances In DC-Jones Era!

Luke Thomas questions Alex Pereira’s championship potential, doubting his ability to thrive in the golden era of light heavyweight division!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira celebrates with the championship belt during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The light heavyweight division in the UFC has seen some incredible champions over the years. Back in 2014, the 205-pound weight class was a shark tank filled with absolute killers. Fighters like Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier ruled the division with an iron fist. These guys weren’t just champions; they were dominant forces that made other elite fighters look ordinary.

Those days were something special, with stars like Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Glover Teixeira all vying for the top spot. It was an era when being the champ meant you had fought through a gauntlet of legends to earn your place.

Fast forward to today, and Alex Pereira has been making waves as the current light heavyweight champion. He’s been collecting belts, moving up from middleweight, and quickly claiming gold and defending it several times at 205 pounds. But veteran MMA analyst Luke Thomas isn’t buying the hype, and he’s not afraid to say it.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Reveals His Dream Fight, And It Is Against The Boogeyman Of The LW Division

Luke Thomas’ Take On Alex Pereira Being The Champion In The Past Light Heavyweight Division

Luke Thomas from Submission Radio dropped an opinionated truth bomb recently. He claimed Pereira wouldn’t have stood a chance in the division’s golden era. Thomas bluntly stated that the 2014 Jon Jones would have been an impossible mountain for Pereira to climb.

“Guys, I have terrible news for you… He [Pereira] is not beating Anthony Johnson. And if he does, he is sure as sh*t not beating Daniel Cormier. And even if you want to say he beats Daniel Cormier, he’s beating 2014 Jon Jones? Go f*** yourself. No, he’s not. He’s not winning that fight at all. He’s not a champion in that era.”

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Whether fans agree or not, Thomas might have a point. The current champ has shown incredible striking skills, but he’s yet to face a high-level wrestler who could test his ground game. This whole situation gets even more interesting when fans consider Alex Pereira’s current predicament. He has got Magomed Ankalaev breathing down his neck as the number-one contender, but he doesn’t seem eager to face him at all.

Daniel “DC” Cormier vs Anthony Johnson | UFC 187

After getting bonked early, DC embraces the grind and gives Rumble a brutal beating with smothering wrestling which led to DC taking his neck in the 3rd to get the tap #UFC #MMA

Requested by @ALDEN_117 pic.twitter.com/JmbJfu0ptX
— Underrated Tribal Chief (@MMAUnderrated) January 26, 2024

In the era of Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones, it is hard to say whether the striking skills of ‘Poatan’ would translate into him being a champion. After all, ‘DC’ fought the hard hitter Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson (R.I.P) and came out on top. Jones fought everyone and came out on top. But, when Pereira came to the UFC, everyone discounted him as just another striker. However, what he has done in his short time in the UFC is extraordinary.

🗣️ Dana White: “You know what tonight told me? There’s no f***ing way I make the [Jon Jones] vs Alex Pereira fight. Jon’s too big. Great wrestler.”#UFC #MMA #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/xlppbSmKrJ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 17, 2024

Meanwhile, Jon Jones, now the heavyweight champ, keeps throwing Pereira’s name out there like a fishing line. Even UFC boss Dana White has raised eyebrows by admitting he’s not keen on matching Alex Pereira against Jones, mainly because Jones’s wrestling could turn the fight into a very one-sided affair. The timing of Thomas’s criticism couldn’t be more relevant.

The light heavyweight division is at an interesting crossroads. Sure, Pereira’s rise has been impressive; two titles in two weight classes is no joke. But there’s this nagging question that won’t go away: how would he fare against someone who can put him on his back?

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Anthony Johnson

Daniel Cormier

Jon Jones

Luke Thomas

UFC

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!